September 6, 2022

In this edition of ENews:

• Best Skills, Best Churches Registration Closes Friday
• Important Convention Deadlines
• Disaster Resilience: St. Barnabas, Mt. Shasta helps fire victims
• Church Life: New Resources from Episcopal Church Foundation 
• Trinity Cathedral announces programs for the Fall

Last Chance! Registration for Best Skills, Best Churches Closes Friday

The Episcopal Diocese of Northern California is once again partnering with Arizona State University, Lodestar Center to bring you Best Skills – Best Churches, an innovative program designed to help you grow and strengthen your church.

Click here for the schedule and additional information.

Register here.

Only 44 Days until Convention!

Registration is open for Clergy, Delegates, Alternates and Visitors. To register, visit the convention website. 

Registration Prices increase after Friday, September 9.

Convocation is Saturday, September 17

from 9:00–11:00 am on Zoom

Convocation is an important preview of the 2022 Convention, including the 2023 Diocesan Budget, Nominees for Standing Committee, Board of Trustees, and 2024 General Convention Deputy, Resolutions, and the upcoming Town Hall.

• All are invited to participate in Convocation.
• Clergy and Lay Delegates who are registered for convention will receive a zoom link via email to participate in Convocation.
• An overview of the Convention schedule, and 2023 budget will be presented from 9:00 am - 10:00 am.
• Deaneries will meet in separate Zoom breakout rooms for convocations from 10:00 am —11:00 am
• Deanery convocations can only be accessed from the Zoom meeting.
• A recording of the Convocation will be available on the convention website after the conclusion of the meeting.

Nominations Deadline Extended to September 21

The Diocese of Northern California Needs You! We rely upon clergy and lay leaders to help in the governance of the diocese. Since most meetings are virtual, we encourage folks from throughout the diocese to participate.

STANDING COMMITTEE

Three Positions Open – Two Clergy, One Lay | Four-year term

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Two Positions Open – Either Clergy or Lay | Three-year term

2024 GENERAL CONVENTION DEPUTIES

16 Positions Open – Four Clergy Deputies, Four Clergy Alternates,

Four Lay Deputies, Four Lay Alternates

For more information and nomination forms, visit the convention website.

Missioner for Disaster Resilience

St. Barnabas, Mt. Shasta prepares for recovery effort after more fires ravage Siskiyou County

Above, left: The remains of the lumber mill in Weed still smolder the day after the Mill Fire began.

Above, right: Alan Rellaford, Missioner for Communication, and Mark Dibelka, Missioner for Disaster Resilience. Below, right: Mark Dibelka, Kamille Dibelka, Anne Happ, and Rev. Larry Holben of St. Barnabas, Mt. Shasta, with Project (Re)Start bins from their congregation, ready to be distributed to victims of the fires in Siskiyou County.

On Friday, September 2, a structure fire broke out at an abandoned lumber mill in Weed (Siskiyou County), rapidly spreading to nearby homes, structures and wildland. Fueled by high temperatures and gusting winds, The Mill Fire tore through Lincoln Heights, an historically black neighborhood where mill workers have lived for generations. The fire has claimed two lives, damaged or destroyed hundreds of homes and buildings, and continues to burn.

Just three hours after the Mill Fire started, another wildland fire began about 12 miles to the northwest of Weed. As of Tuesday morning, The Mountain Fire has burned more than 11,690 acres. Both fires forced evacuations of hundreds of residents.

On Friday, Mark Dibelka, Missioner for Disaster Resilience, assisted in evacuating residents in the path of the Mill Fire. That evening, the congregation of St Barnabas, Mt. Shasta swung into action, staging an emergency rest center and phone charging site for residents who had lost power due to the Mill Fire.

Both fires started on the heels of the McKinney fire, which erupted near Yreka on July 29, killing four and burning more than 60,000 Acres and destroying the unincorporated community of Klamath River. This fire season, there have been 12 named fires in Siskiyou County totaling over 83,000 Acres.

On Saturday, September 3, Mark Dibelka and Missioner for Communication Alan Rellaford surveyed the perimeter of the Mill Fire, and visited an American Red Cross Evacuation Shelter in Yreka hosted by the Karuk tribe. There they made connections with Siskiyou County Social Work and Red Cross Team Leaders to help in coordinating long-term disaster recovery efforts.

What’s next?

As with other disasters, The Diocese of Northern California joins other churches, non-profits, and government agencies to provide emergency needs to those impacted. A Local Assistance Center (LAC) will be established this week. There, residents will be able to access resources needed for the recovery and rebuilding efforts. Sadly, the community center in Weed which housed the LAC for the McKinney Fire was destroyed in the Mill Fire.

Project (Re)Start has become a vital resource in our efforts to helps those impacted by disasters. So far, St. Barnabas has assembled and distributed 30 (Re)Start bins to survivors. The bins on hand will be distributed in the coming week, leaving their supplies depleted. The needs will be even greater in the coming weeks as the Mill and Mountain Fires are contained and residents begin the long road to recovery.

If your congregation has joined the Project (Re)Start effort, your bins will be used to resupply those of churches who have distributed them in disasters.

In turn, those bins must be replaced to prepare for the next disaster in the diocese.

How Can You Help?

Give to the Bishop’s Disaster Relief Fund. All funds go directly to helping those in need, whether in gift cards, emergency shelter, gas cards, or Project (Re)Start. As we know, fire season is far from over, and your help is needed now. Thank you to those who have already given generously. Your gifts make a huge impact in the lives of those in need.

Thank you to the congregations participating in Project (Re)Start:

Alta Deanery

St. Johns | Chico

St. Barnabas | Mt Shasta

St. Peter’s | Red Bluff

Russian River Deanery

Holy Trinity | Ukiah

Capital Deanery

Faith | Cameron Park

St. Luke’s | Galt

St. Pauls | Sacramento

Trinity | Sutter Creek

Semper Virens Deanery

Christ Church | Eureka

St. Alban’s | Arcata

St. Francis | Fortuna

Central Deanery

Grace | Wheatland

St. James | Lincoln

St. Timothy’s | Gridley

St. Johns | Marysville

Sierra Deanery

Christ the King | Quincy

St. Michaels | Alturas

To learn more, contact Project (Re)Start Coordinator Lis Padula at 916.477.0828 or eapadula@gmail.com.

Missioner for Church Life

Episcopal Church Foundation Introduces

ECF360

The Episcopal Church Foundation has a new low-cost subscription service providing useful resources for your community of faith in Stewardship/Annual Giving, Capital Campaigns and Planned Giving. Your subscription will include step-by-step guides and calendars to implement your plans, as well as downloadable templates and much more! Resources will continue to be upgraded and enhanced in the months to come!

For details, examples of resources, and price, go to: https://www.ecf360.org/

Stewardship/Annual Giving Resources

Choose from numerous annual campaign options and many downloadable tools and resources.

Capital Campaign Resources

Guides you through ECF’s Discern, Study and Ask stages for a small capital campaign.

Planned Giving Resources

Gives you direct access to the many tools of ECF’s comprehensive Planned Giving on Demand toolkit.

Around the Diocese

Linens from St. Mary's Ferndale gifted to

St. Paul's, Crescent City

The Rev. Nancy Streufert presents altar linens from St. Mary's, Ferndale to Katie Benoit, Altar Guild member, and Karen Wert, Senior Warden of St. Paul's, Crescent City.

On Sunday, August 28, The Rev. Nancy Streufert blessed and presented linens from St. Mary's, Ferndale for the congregation of St. Paul's, Crescent City. St. Mary's was closed in May, 2022

Kathy Clague, Altar Guild "maven" from Christ Church, Eureka took the linens with her after the closing liturgy at St. Mary's and lovingly laundered, ironed, and prepared them for presentation to St. Paul's. They were gratefully received!

From the Wider Church

Do you feel called to the work of church and community redevelopment?

The Episcopal Church’s Office of Church Planting and Mission Development is offering an online retreat for those seeking to discern their role and fit in church redevelopment. 

Learn more about Genesis II: Re-Vision and Renew, and here is a link to our discernment grid.

Re-Vision and Renew: Discerning Leadership for Redeveloping Congregations

12 to 5 p.m. Eastern time on the following Thursdays: Oct. 6, 13, 20, & 27 

 Space is limited, so early registration is encouraged.

Register today

Registrations will be reviewed as they are received.

Questions? Email Steve Matthews. 

September 11, 2022

Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Luke 15:1-10

The Fifteenth Chapter of Luke is one of the most remarkable passages in Scripture. Those who desire an in-depth treatment of the whole chapter, and especially of the Parable of the Prodigal Son, should read Kenneth E. Bailey’s Finding the Lost (Concordia,1992). This is one of the most important books I have read in my over 50 years of biblical and theological studies.

The first two parables, the lost sheep and the lost coin, teach on a lesser scale the great lessons of the Gospel of Grace beautifully taught by Jesus in the parable of the “Two Lost Boys,” (15:11-32). Note how in all three parables the Shepherd, the woman and the father take the initiative  to seek and find the lost. Humorously, notice how in the first two parables the shepherd does not admit that he lost the sheep (I found my sheep that was lost) whereas the woman admits that she lost the coin (I have found the coin that I have lost). Luke regularly asserts the equal status and dignity of men and woman. Here he hints at woman’s superiority, at least in the area of truth-telling and honesty.

But the center of these parable, especially the third, is the demonstration of costly, unexpected, undeserved love, that illustrates “the deepest levels of the meaning of the cross” (Bailey,192). At great cost to the shepherd he seeks out the lost sheep. At cost to the woman she sweeps the house and searches carefully till she finds the coin. The father runs out to meet the son in a costly demonstration of love, and from the same love goes out to meet the older son who is angry and refuses to join the party.

The whole chapter is Jesus’ answer to the scribes and the Pharisees, who grumble because Jesus ate with tax collectors and sinners. (15:1) In the parables Jesus answers that “this is what God does, and this is what I do.”

This is beautifully expressed in the Post Communion Prayer in the Church of England equivalent to our Rite 2: “Father of all, we give you thanks and praise, that when we were still far off, you met us in your Son and brought us home. Dying and living, he declared your love, gave us grace and opened the gate of glory…, ”

Now that is a reason for a party!

– The Rev. Peter Rodgers

Trinity Cathedral

Thursday Night at the Cathedral is back in person! We will begin in the Cathedral with a 6:00 pm service, then gather in the Assembly Area to share a brown bag meal. Beverages will be provided.

Below see the two classes that will be offered this fall in a hybrid fashion: You can choose to be there in person or attend on Zoom. To Register for either class, Contact Susan Hotchkiss susan_hotchkiss1@hotmail.com 

Center for Bible Study

Hybrid Course Announced

The Center for Bible Study will be offering a hybrid course (online and in person) based at St. Augustine's Episcopal Church in Rocklin.

The subject will be Exploring the Old Testament in the New

It will be taught by the Rev. Peter Rodgers, and based on his 2012 book of that title. The course is free, but with a suggested $50 donation (or whatever one can afford for the book). The course will meet at St. Augustine's and online at 7 p.m. on Thursdays beginning September 8.

For details and registration visit: www.centerforbiblestudy.wordpress.com 

If you have questions, email Peter Rodgers at peterrodg@gmail.com.

Left: JoAnne Williams, Workshop Facilitator; Center, Top: Every parish in the Semper Virens Deanery was represented at the workshop; Center, Bottom: Workshop Facilitators JoAnne Williams, Miriam Casey, Rev. Dr. Daniel London, Bob Wohlsen; Right: The Rev. Dr. Daniel London.

Christ Church, Eureka hosts Racial Healing Workshop

On August 27, Christ Episcopal Church and the Semper Virens Deanery welcomed the racial healing workshop I Will With God’s Help: Journey Toward Racial Healing and Justice. 

The facilitators, Jo Ann Williams, Bob Wohlsen and Miriam Casey, highlighted the message of God’s love for us as well as our Baptismal promises to love our neighbors and to work for justice and peace. The Baptipsmal promises were linked to the long term vision to strive for the Beloved Community,  illustrated as a labyrinth.The participants were invited to learn the truth about racism, imagine how their communities would be if injustices created by racism didn’t exist, grow in their capacity to love, and begin to consider how they might engage with the local communities to begin to repair damage created by racism. 

There were 22 participants from all four of the churches in the deanery. They opened their hearts and minds to the healing work ahead, and engaged with the invitation to strive for justice in their communities.

This workshop will be offered at All Saints in Redding on September 10, and at Church of the Incarnation in Santa Rosa on September 24. The workshop dates for 2023 still need to be determined.

For more information about the workshop, please contact Miriam Casey at norcalcim@gmail.com

Communication Workshop Scheduled 

Talking Through Political Divisions:

Having Hard Conversations With Compassion

Facilitated by the Rev. Alex Leach

Saturday, November 5 | 10:00 am – 4:00 pm | On Zoom

Another Election Day is approaching. Increasingly, this has become a day charged with heated conflict between neighbors, friends, and family. And in our increasingly politically polarized world, it is difficult to have conversations across those political divisions. To bridge these divides, the Commission for Intercultural Ministries will host a workshop on building communication skills that can help us have hard conversations with compassion and connection.

The Rev. Alex Leach has spent almost 10 years training, teaching, and coaching conflict navigation skills. Such skills help us listen to even the hardest messages, hear with the heart of Christ, and speak our honest truth with care so that our own message is heard rather than rejected because we have simply pushed the other person's buttons. 

Through this interactive workshop, participants will explore spiritual practices that help us stay rooted in Christ's love and build skills around listening and speaking. 

Register online at https://forms.gle/D6Q2tENHrqz6wo6F8.

The Commission is also planning to sponsor in-person conflict navigation workshops in 2023.

Questions may be directed by email to NorCalCIM@gmail.com or to Alex+ at apleac@gmail.com. 

Commission on The Environment

A Diocesan resolution addressing climate change

By Matt Weiser

When church leaders meet in Redding on Oct. 21-22 for the Diocesan Convention, they will be asked to consider adopting a resolution dealing with nothing less than the fate of our planet: A climate change resolution.

The resolution calls on individual Episcopal churches and other diocesan organizations to strive for carbon-neutral status in their operations by 2030. 

It sounds like a lot to ask, especially for small churches with limited resources. But the resolution has been carefully crafted to ensure success. 

Why carbon neutral? 

Climate change is caused by carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels used by industry and transportation. This additional carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is boosting average global temperatures to historically unprecedented levels. This is already harming plants, animals and human communities, and causing numerous disasters caused by unusual weather events. Presiding Bishop Michael Curry has called on churches to reduce carbon emissions in everything from the food they serve to the electricity they consume. 

In addition, at the General Convention in July 2022, Episcopal leaders adopted Resolution A087, calling on the church to achieve net carbon neutrality in its operations by 2030, and urging individual churches and congregations to do the same. 

Also, the church has laid out a detailed Covenant for the Care of Creation. It’s a program to adopt loving and life-giving relationships with all aspects of God’s Creation, from the air we breathe to the animals that the Bible calls upon us to protect.

What will the resolution do?

The proposed resolution states that, by Dec. 31, 2024, each congregation and Diocesan organization shall present to its vestry or equivalent governing body a facility assessment to identify actions enabling its operations to become carbon neutral by 2030.

What is carbon neutral?

Carbon neutral means that emissions associated with operating a church are offset by actions to absorb emissions. No church can be totally emission-free. So first we must assess how much carbon dioxide we are emitting. Then we identify ways to reduce them. For instance, through simple energy conservation measures or by adopting alternative energy sources like wind and solar. Finally, we must take action to absorb emissions from the atmosphere equal to the amount we require to operate. Planting trees is one simple way to do this. 

How can churches do all this?

The resolution requires the Diocesan Commission on the Environment to help churches meet the 2030 goal. It will do so by sharing resources and successful examples, and pointing church leaders to experts who can help. It will also identify financial resources that may help churches adopt carbon-neutral practices.

Yes, it’s a tall order. But as catastrophic fire, drought and flood rock our congregations, we are realizing that managing climate change is one of the most important challenges of our time. Each of us as individuals have a responsibility to do our part and working together we can accomplish even more.  One way we can do that is by managing the operation of our churches.

If you have further questions about the climate change resolution, please contact: Miriam Casey, (650) 380-2747, mlcasey7@yahoo.com; or Rev. Dr. Pamela Dolan, (314) 477-6591, pamela@churchofstmartin.org.

Climate Action Opportunity at Convention

**Youth Representative Needed - Travel Stipend Provided**

By Juliette Beck

Do you know a young person concerned about climate change and ready to raise their voice to support meaningful climate action? The Commission on the Environment is seeking a young person (aged 30 or younger) to join our team at the upcoming Diocesan convention, Oct. 21-22 in Redding. We are championing a Climate Action Resolution that will be voted on by the delegates at the convention and we want to do all we can to ensure its passage. We value youth leadership and are seeking a young person to help:

•  Staff an information table 
•  Talk to delegates about the resolution
• Promote the Commission and our goals 
• Have fun!

We welcome your ideas and participation! A stipend is available to support travel costs. Please contact Miriam Casey, (650) 380-2747 mlcasey7@yahoo.com if you are interested.

Upcoming

Events

Around

The Diocese

Racial Healing Workshops:

Saturday, September 10 | 9:30 am – 4:00 pm

All Saints Episcopal Church | Redding

Register here: https://forms.gle/mSy9wu2etPhEm7f27

Saturday, September 24 | 9:30 am – 4:00 pm

Church of the Incarnation | Santa Rosa

Register here:  https://forms.gle/PFhqthoixtXYG3Vi6

Helping Episcopalians Vote Faithfully in U.S. Elections | on Zoom

Presented by the Association for Episcopal Deacons

Thursday, September 8 | 3:00 – 4:00 (Pacific)

Register: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0oduCtqT0qE9ZUUQsvk9Amr5zaergonl0Z

Special guest Bryce Bennett from Vote Early Day. All can attend, but we will take a particular angle for deacons.

Sister Joan Chittister | Zoom Webinar

A Monastic Heart: How to Live an Ordinary Life Extraordinarily Well

Saturday, September 10 | 10:00 am to 12:00 pm

Registration: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_VA2AGhckTdOsj26viD0xjQ

Presented by Episcopal Community Services & Diocesan Partners in Ministries of Health.

Visit www.norcalecs.org for more information.

Diocesan Day of Discernment | Zoom Meeting

Saturday, October 15 | 9:00 am – 12:00 pm

This is the first step for those interested in the ordination process. Discerners and sponsoring clergy must register and attend.

Questions? E-mail Jacqi Seppi at jacqi@norcalepiscopal.org

To register: https://form.jotform.com/220656380441149

Cursillo 117 | In person

October 27 – 30 | Thursday – Sunday

Mt. Hope Bible Camp | located outside of Oroville

Accommodations for 25 candidates – applications on the website: cursilloncal.org. Potential candidates will need a sponsor (a previous Cursillo attendee). For information contact Jo Churchill at gjchurchill@snowcrest.net or call/text 530-524-1468 

35th Annual Diocesan Choir Festival | In person

Saturday, January 28, 2023

Trinity Cathedral | Sacramento

All choral singers throughout the Diocese are invited

Guest conductor will be Dr. Bruce Neswick, the recently retired Canon for Cathedral Music Trinity Cathedral in Portland, Oregon. 

To add yourself to the email list, contact David Link, Canon Precentor & Director of Music at Trinity Cathedral: link@trinitycathedral.org

Incarnation | Santa Rosa is seeking a part-time, lay or ordained,

Pastoral Care Coordinator. See position description here.

St. Clement's | Rancho Cordova is seeking a 3/4 time Priest-in-Charge. 

See the position description here.

St. Paul's | Sacramento is seeking a Music Director. 

Read the job announcement here.

Commission for Intercultural Ministries

Commission on Ministry

Christian Formation Committee

Episcopal Community Services

Ministries of Health Committee

Investment Fund Committee

Disaster Preparedness

Recovery Ministries

Episcopal Foundation of Northern California

Center for Bible Study

The Episcopal Diocese of Northern California

Making Disciples, Raising Up Saints & Transforming Communities for Christ

www.norcalepiscopal.org